Martinsburg street improvement announcement set

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The city of Martinsburg is scheduled to formally announce today the completion of street improvements in the city’s north end that are part of economic development efforts there.

Mayor George Karos said Monday in a news release that the announcement would be made at 11 a.m. in the vicinity of Schewel’s furniture, where representatives of the city will provide an overview of the project.

A $1.7 million construction contract included the extension of Lutz Avenue to Meridian Parkway, along with a traffic circle at the new intersection of the roads. It is part of the tax increment finance district, or TIF, project, which is designed to spur economic development.

The project, dubbed Meridian Pointe Phase 1C, also included a pedestrian/bike path, landscaping and decorative lighting.

City officials ultimately plan to extend Lutz Avenue farther east to connect the street to the Raleigh Street Extension via Forbes Drive to open up more land for development.

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Tax money generated by development in the TIF district is to be committed to paying off bonds issued for the infrastructure improvements in the special zone.